Considering the story behind this place, can you imagine Alexander Hamilton right here? Hamilton Grange National Memorial stands as a testament to the life and legacy of one of America’s Founding Fathers. It preserves the relocated home of Alexander Hamilton. This National Park Service site lets you step back in time.
Hamilton was born in the West Indies. He came to New York in 1772 to study at King’s College which is now Columbia University. He was a military officer, lawyer, and political philosopher. Hamilton was also the first United States Secretary of the Treasury.
In 1800, Hamilton commissioned John McComb Jr. to design a country home. The two-story frame Federal style house was completed in 1802. Sadly, this was just two years before Hamilton’s death. He died from his duel with Aaron Burr on July 11, 1804.
Hamilton named his estate “The Grange”. This was after his grandfather’s holdings in Scotland. The Grange was the only home Hamilton ever owned. He traveled there from his law office several times a week. Hamilton fussed over the landscaping. Notably, he planted a circle of thirteen sweet gum trees. These symbolized the thirteen original states. Some say The Grange might have been Hamilton’s rivalrous answer to Thomas Jefferson’s Monticello.
After Hamilton’s death, his wife Elizabeth owned the house until 1833. In 1889, St. Luke’s Episcopal Church acquired The Grange. The church moved it a half-block east and about two blocks south. This conformed to the new street pattern. The original porches were removed for the move. The interior staircase was reoriented. The original grand Federal-style entrance was boarded up.
The American Scenic and Historic Preservation Society bought The Grange in 1924. They turned it into a public museum in 1933. The Grange was designated a National Historic Landmark in December 1960. The National Park Foundation purchased the house. Then they transferred it to the National Park Service.
Congress authorized the National Memorial in 1962. It required that the house be relocated. Then the house had to be restored to appear as Hamilton knew it in 1802–1804. The claustrophobic Convent Avenue setting was inappropriate. The country house should be viewed as a freestanding building.
On May 9, 2006, Hamilton Grange Memorial closed. This allowed for architectural investigations. The plan was to move the house to St. Nicholas Park. The park location was a more appropriate setting. It would permit restoration of lost features. The new location would also keep the house in the neighborhood.
The move of The Grange began in February 2008. The building was elevated in one piece. Over several weeks, it was raised on hydraulic jacks. It was moved on rollers along steel beams. On June 7, 2008, it completed its journey. It was rolled one block south and one block east to St. Nicholas Park.
The Grange re-opened to the public on September 17, 2011. The original porches were rebuilt. The original main entrance doorway and staircase were restored. Landscaping includes 13 sweet gum trees. There is also a stone wall and a circular rose garden.
Inside Hamilton Grange, the visitor center is on the ground floor. The kitchen, laundry and servants’ rooms would have been located there. The Grange now has a security detail. At its new location, it is next to the City College campus. You can take a free tour here. Guides share the life of Hamilton and his family. They also show artifacts. For example, there is a silver wine cooler given to Hamilton by George Washington.
Hamilton Grange stands as a reminder of Hamilton’s vision. It also reflects his contributions to the birth of the United States. It is a place where history comes alive. It inspires us to reflect on the ideals of liberty. It encourages us to consider the complexities of the American dream.